title: Approaching regional left atrial function by tissue Doppler velocity and strain imaging.
abstract: Atrial function is an integral part for the proper performance of the circulatory system. Assessment of its haemodynamic and mechanical characteristics by use of non-invasive echocardiography, including tissue Doppler velocity and strain imaging, may provide a better insight into atrial function and its relationship with ventricular function. From an electromechanical perspective, this review summarizes not only the various methods for evaluating regional atrial function by tissue Doppler imaging, but also the normal findings in healthy subjects and the major clinical utilities in cardiac diseases, such as atrial fibrillation, ischaemic heart disease and heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, SH Ho Cardiovascular and Stroke Centre, Institute of Vascular Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong, Peoples' Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Gabriel Wai-Kwok
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Cheuk-Man
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*